Insect Eggs on Chard - Ask Extension
1. What is the insect that laid its eggs on my rainbow Swiss Chard? I discovered these eggs on Nov. 15, on new and old leaves. They are all over the b...
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Insect Eggs on Chard #890244
Asked November 24, 2024, 6:38 PM EST
1. What is the insect that laid its eggs on my rainbow Swiss Chard? I discovered these eggs on Nov. 15, on new and old leaves. They are all over the bottom of the leaves in small groupings of 3-20 eggs.
2. What is this tiny green larva, also on my Swiss Chard, not quite 1/2 inch long.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
We think that these look similar to the eggs and larvae of beneficial insects called flower flies or hover flies, which are pollinators and that also eat aphids, which are a pest insect.
They are small bee mimics which you can learn more about here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/flower-fly/
Many syrphidae species overwinter as either larvae or pupae in leaf litter.
Christine
They are small bee mimics which you can learn more about here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/flower-fly/
Many syrphidae species overwinter as either larvae or pupae in leaf litter.
Christine
